Page 16 of Night Prey
“Lucca, you’re okay. You’re okay.”
I kiss her wet cheek. “I’m fine. You scared me to death, my love.”
She leans back and looks into my eyes. “I’m sorry.” Then she captures my face between her hands and kisses me as if she wants to drown in me.
I taste her relief and passion, and it mirrors all the feelings swirling inside my chest. I grab a fistful of her hair, deepening the kiss, but our moment is cut short when I sense we aren’t alone anymore. We break apart and meet the rest of our party.
“Are you guys okay?” Karl asks.
“Yeah.” I finally get up, bringing Vivi with me. “Who tossed me into the portal?”
“I did,” Ronan replies. “Sorry, Luc. I didn’t know how long it would stay open.”
“It’s all right.” I scan our surroundings and notice that Solomon, Aurora, Saxon, Cheryl, and Manu are doing the same. Karl is too busy staring at my sister.
“Wait. Where’s Vaughn?” Vivi asks.
“The portal closed before he could cross,” Solomon replies. “It’s better this way. We don’t need your mother discovering that a new vampire was made. She wouldn’t be happy about that.”
“She won’t be happy that I’m here regardless.”
“Yes, your mother is a piece of work,” Solomon grumbles. “Do you know where we are?”
Vivi nods. “Yes, we aren’t too far from the palace. Let’s go.”
Seven
VAUGHN
SALEM
Since I turned into a vampire, I got used to being pushed aside and letting the Blueblood vamps do everything. They didn’t think I could handle all the nasty situations that have been thrown our way. I tried to not let their lack of confidence get to me. I did the work instead. I trained hard and followed their rules. That meant staying away from my mother and sisters. I still talk to them on the phone regularly, but I haven’t seen them in person since the change.
Tonight, I feel like I’ve earned my place in Lucca’s inner circle. We’re gathered in a clearing to perform a spell that will hopefully open a portal to Ellnesari. From what I understand, our current location is a source of natural magic that Solomon and the High Witch are hoping to tap into. We’re going to rescue Miranda and Rikkon, who were kidnapped by a psychotic Nightingale named Selor for reasons unknown to us.
We’re all armed with swords and daggers. I asked why we weren’t bringing any guns, and I was told modern weapons don’t work in Ellnesari. I have my doubts that what we’re packing can do much damage to a Nightingale, but I don’t voice them outloud. I’m sure I’m not the only one who knows the odds are not in our favor.
“All right, we’re all here. What are we waiting for?” Lucca asks Solomon.
He glowers at Lucca. “We are waiting for me to get ready. May I remind you that the Taluah Mirror is an unpredictable relic? One wrong word or ingredient and I could end up opening a gateway to Hell.”
Saxon shudders. “That’s definitely not a place I want to visit again. Please, take your time.”
Solomon and Isadora carry on with the ritual, and it’s exactly how I pictured it’d go. There’s a cutting of palm, blood dripping into a bowl, and a chanting that sounds like gibberish to me. As the blood fills the silver container, glowing letters appear on the outside. The script reminds me of the writing inside the ring of power fromThe Lord of the Rings. I get chills thinking about it.
Once Solomon is satisfied with the amount of blood he collected from the High Witch, he looks at us.
“Now it’s your turn to make a donation.”
One by one, we make a blood contribution, and this is when things begin to get spooky real fast. The letters on the bowl become brighter, and a strange energy emanates from it. I’m not vibing with what’s happening at all.
“Does anyone know what those symbols mean?” I ask.
Vivi squints, trying to read the inscription. A moment later, she gasps.
Lucca puts his hand on her lower back. “What is it, Vivi?”
“It’s… it’s my name. My full name, written in old Aquilan.” She turns to Solomon, looking visibly shaken. “Where did you find this?”
